YouAlberta
Hip-hop does it all for me: it helps me feel energized, it challenges my mind, perspective, and thoughts, and it is good background music for chilling and relaxing. The most popular songs usually have a tough beat, a catchy chorus, and a few bars that get stuck in your head. Personally, I've always enjoyed songs that dig deep into my soul and tackle real issues through creative writing and lyricism. Since it is Black History Month, here are five of my favourite rap songs that dive deep into Black issues and have helped me understand Black history.
1. Black - Dave Santan
This whole song is all about describing what "Black" is, and it is hands down my personal favourite when it comes to talking about Black issues. The whole song is filled with deep hitting bars, and Dave really highlights the clear injustices that exist when policing minority communities and portraying Black people in the media. The rest of the song talks about issues like slavery, heritage, and belonging. I love this song because it does such an amazing job putting words to what it can really feel like to be Black, which is something I have struggled with all my life. This song cements the fact I'm not alone in my feelings and perceptions of what it really means to be Black.
2. Changes - Tupac
Tupac talks about how he never sees things change and, unfortunately, much of what he rapped about still remains true today even 25 years after his death. Reflecting on what Tupac says forces me to ask questions like: can we actually make meaningful change? Do we need to take a different approach to how we try to make changes? I love this song because it shows me that while I don't have all the answers, I am constantly thinking about issues with the world and issues Black people face.
3. Brackets - J Cole
J. Cole asks and reflects on some great questions about how tax dollars are used, and how he doesn't see any money being put towards changes in his community. You have to "see something to be something" and, like J. Cole is describing, it's hard to "be something" when all you see portrayed are white victors and suppressed Black people. I love this song because of its relevance to Canada and our systems. I wrote another blog post about "What Black History Month Means To Me" and said: "Just like slavery, Black Canadian experiences and accomplishments aren't taught nor celebrated as much as they should be." It was only after listening to this song that I began to question who was writing the curriculum I was learning while growing up.
4. XXX - Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick makes an extremely valid point about the role of mentorship and education in the life of a young Black person. Like I mentioned earlier, "you have to see something to be something" and without the right mentors and role models in life, it's hard to "make it." I love this song because it brings plenty of issues to light including how systems in America discourage Black youth from going to school. I really like how Kendrick talks about "Johnny" wanting to be like his cousin, but we know that the media often portrays young Black people as only capable of being rappers, athletes, or criminals. If these are the only prominent Black figures Black youth "see," then those are the only roles they see for themselves "when they grow up."
5. Young N**** - Nipsey Hussle
This is my favorite song of all time! Every time I listen to this song, I am motivated to do better in my life. Anytime I am in a slump, too tired to work, or feeling unambitious, I turn this song on and all the way up to remind me of my greater life goals. It reminds me that the only way I'm going to get anywhere is through hard work. This song is the transformation story of a broke Black kid becoming a mogul. Nipsey takes us through his story and what motivated him as a young Black man to get to a place where he feels successful: the vision of a life with the finer things, shifting away from the struggles of his past life, and remaining true to himself. This song is a huge motivator for me; if he can accomplish all that, it means I can hustle my way to my dreams too. The rest of the song is a story about how he manifested his goals through and through. In the context of Black History Month, this is a story about the process of Nipsey making his own Black history and how he's paving the way for others.